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BMW GROUP BLOG.

As an international mobility company, we constantly have our finger on the pulse of innovation.
This means exciting, informative and emotional topics relating to products, services and technical progress are always on the agenda.
We naturally want to share these with you and will be presenting selected highlights in our BMW Group Blog on a regular basis. This will give you an insight into the many different topics that drive the BMW Group. Every week, you can read new stories about the company and learn more about current economic, social and technological trends and innovations. The full spectrum of BMW Group topics awaits – exclusively prepared for you in exciting interviews and articles.

If you are specifically interested in the BMW Group's sustainability news, please click here.

The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT. Our fuel cell development vehicle.

10. September 2019

With the unveiling of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), the BMW Group is demonstrating its ability to complement its electrified vehicle portfolio with the deployment of hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology.

Connected, individual, personal: the future ecosystem “myBMW”.

09. September 2019

Mobility will continue to evolve in the future. Access to digital services and personal mobility offerings are becoming increasingly important for many customers after purchasing their vehicle. This has prompted the BMW Group’s move towards a complete portfolio encompassing vehicle, services, lifestyle and offerings from partners and third-party providers.

Collaborations for the Smart City.

04. September 2019

For now, electric vehicles are still the exception rather than the rule. This is mainly due to poor charging infrastructure and a lack of incentives. It is for this reason the BMW Group sees collaboration with cities as a tremendous opportunity. And because electric vehicles cannot reduce congestion on their own, mobility services are another important part of the concept.

Learning from Zen Buddhists – or the anti-ego approach to innovation.

29. August 2019

The “Innovationswerk” in Garching near Munich has served the BMW Group for the past five years: A small team of designers, engineers and psychologists conducts research into people's aspirations and preferences, both today and for the future. The aim of it all? To create the ideal customer experience. We talked to the team’s two visionaries, Astrid Thomaser and Knut Mayser, about how this is taking shape.

Electrifying sound from Hollywood legend Hans Zimmer.

19. August 2019

In electrified vehicles, the engine sound has to be redesigned because the drive trains are so quiet. For the BMW Vision M NEXT, Renzo Vitale, acoustic engineer and sound designer at the BMW Group, therefore joined forces with a genius from the world of sound: Oscar-winning film composer Hans Zimmer.

Sustainability calls everything into question.

14. August 2019

Emission-free mobility will not be enough to change the world. That’s one of the reasons why the BMW Group developed its first wholly sustainable series-production vehicle, the BMW i3. This pioneering work “demanded a totally new way of thinking from all of us”, explains Daniela Bohlinger, who promotes sustainability at all BMW Group design brand studios.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY – THE MIX MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

18. July 2019

The transition to climate-neutral mobility has already begun. Electrification will be the dominant theme of the 2020s. It is the clearly stated goal of the BMW Group to systematically drive ahead with the decarbonisation of individual mobility between 2020 and 2030 by increasing the proportion of plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles sold.

The new fully electrically powered MINI Cooper SE.

09. July 2019

At the BMW Group, we take responsibility for future generations. We’re investing in future technologies that will help solve significant challenges facing society: as part of this process, the new fully electrically powered MINI Cooper SE is another contribution by the BMW Group to improving the quality of life. Find out where we stand as a company on electromobility and why the fully electrically powered MINI is the right car to tackle the challenges facing society today.

“Safety First for Automated Driving” – a new cross-industry white paper.

03. July 2019

This is a very eventful week for automated driving. Which is not surprising considering this is one of the most complex challenges of our time, not only from a technological perspective, but on a social and legal level too.

The future is already running on electric power.

27. June 2019

The BMW Group has already established itself as a pioneer of electromobility. With the BMW i3 and BMW i8 along with a wide range of plug-in hybrid models, the BMW Group has the broadest programme of electrically powered vehicles among the competitive field. What is more, the BMW Group is now also focussing on electrifying additional models, thereby highlighting the importance of remaining open in the choice of technologies along the way to achieving sustainable mobility.

CO2-REDUCED PRODUCTION.

20. June 2019

Dr Jury Witschnig is head of Sustainability Strategy Product and Production at the BMW Group. He talks about why CO2-reduced production is essential for the BWW Group to take full responsibility in the field of sustainability.

Mexico – a plant for the future.

06. June 2019

The BMW plant in Mexico is another important pillar in the company’s global production strategy. The opening of the new site takes account of the constant growth in the region and strengthens the BMW Group’s relationship with Latin America’s most important market.

ELECTRIC CARS – A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

04. June 2019

Anyone who buys a plug-in hybrid or an electric car is clearly doing their bit for the environment. These vehicles already have a much smaller carbon footprint than models with a petrol or diesel engine. But environmentally-friendly electric cars have yet to realise their full potential: They still have a lot to offer.

"We want to work with the best start-ups in the world."

09. May 2019

Bernhard Schambeck is head of the BMW Startup Garage, the company’s own venture client unit. In this blog post, he talks about why startups are so important for the BMW Group and what is unique about the BMW Startup Garage’s approach.

BMW Group and Microsoft developing a platform for intelligent, multimodal voice interaction in the future.

06. May 2019

Collaboration between the two companies underlines the significance of cloud-based AI for the BMW Group. Satya Nadella, CEO Microsoft Corp., Scott Guthrie, Executive VP of Microsoft Cloud + AI Group, and Guy Duncan, Head of Development Digital Services BMW Group, speak about the firms’ successful work together as technology partners since 2016 and their new joint projects.

Designing the Future - Five Questions to Annette Baumeister.

30. April 2019

Designworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, is a global creative consultancy. Through its experience with clients in diverse industries, Designworks is able to bring external perspectives and creative inspiration to the BMW Group. Designworks also shares its know-how from the complex automotive sector with customers from other industries in joint innovation projects.
We met Annette Baumeister, Studio Director of the Designworks office in Shanghai and asked her five questions about Designworks, the Chinese way of design-thinking and todays design trends.

Plug and play: BMW i technology as a driving force for electrification.

25. April 2019

Sustainability. Innovation. Visionary planning. The BMW i models represent not only environmentally-conscious mobility, but also technological progress. Vehicle development is not the BMW Group’s only focus – because the same technology can also be used for many additional applications: From electrified boats and energy storage to local public transport – the BMW Group is literally driving electrification in a wide range of different areas.

A QUANTUM LEAP FOR MOBILITY?

18. April 2019

Digitalisation is one of the driving factors behind the transformation of individual mobility. The BMW Group is pressing ahead with systematic digitalisation across all areas of the company, continuously improving processes throughout the value chain. Achieving the best results possible depends on having the right tools – and this includes highly-advanced computers. Both scientific organisations and corporations are now developing a new, considerably more powerful tool – the quantum computer.

Entering the digital world in every area.

12. April 2019

From mass production to driver assistance systems to individualisation – technological progress shapes opportunities and demands for automobile manufacturers and mobility providers. Digitalisation in all its facets offers almost limitless potential. The BMW Group therefore provides a wide range of digital solutions for employees and customers across all areas of the company.

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS IN VEGAS. THE FIFTH WEEK OF OUR #X7ROADTRIP (5/5).

09. April 2019

All good things come to an end. Our BMW X7 road trip through the US enters its final week. Starting out from Las Vegas, we will make our way towards the west coast. Stay tuned to the BMW Group News Forum for travel diaries and to learn more about the BMW X7 and our company in the United States.

From Sun City to Sin City. THE FOURTH WEEK OF OUR #X7ROADTRIP (4/5).

04. April 2019

Our BMW X7 road trip through the US enters its fourth week. This is a very special one, as we drive from the Sun City of El Paso to the Sin City of Las Vegas. Stay tuned to the BMW Group News Forum for travel diaries and to learn more about the BMW X7 and our company in the United States.

Open, connected, collaborative: building the Smart Factory together.

02. April 2019

Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things, end-to-end automation – advancing technological change and digitalisation present many exciting opportunities and challenges for manufacturing companies. The BMW Group is eager to embrace these – together with the right partners. The goal is for collaborative, cross-industry development of innovative industrial IoT applications. To this end, the company has launched the Open Manufacturing Platform with its partner Microsoft.

Houston to El Paso. The third week of our #X7roadtrip (3/5) .

28. March 2019

The road trip continues: The first ever BMW X7 starts into the third week of its five week journey across the US. This time we are on our way from Houston, via Big Bend to El Paso. Stay tuned to the BMW Group News Forum for upcoming travel diaries and learn more about our company in the United States.

New BMW 1 Series relies on front-wheel drive for driving pleasure.

28. March 2019

Agile, sporty, dynamic – that is the BMW 1 Series. The latest generation also delivers these typical BMW qualities, of course – but with a twist: After 15 years with a rear-wheel-drive layout, the new BMW 1 Series is switching to a modern front-wheel-drive system. This brings many advantages – without compromising the usual quality, dynamic performance and sheer driving pleasure. The new BMW 1 Series is still in the final stages of testing – but we can already take a look at what the change in technology means.

Orlando to Houston: The second week of our #X7roadtrip (2/5).

22. March 2019

In the second week of our adventurous, five-week road trip across the USA in the BMW X7 we are on our way from Orlando to Tallahassee. Stay tuned at the BMW Group News Forum for upcoming travel diaries and learn more about our company in the United States.

A game-based approach to sustainable mobility.

15. March 2019

Gamification – the practice of incorporating gaming elements, such as badges and points, into everyday processes – has many advantages. It boosts involvement, encourages longer, more regular usage and makes whatever you are doing more fun. But can it also be used to help the environment? The BMW Group wanted to find out – and so, in collaboration with the City of Rotterdam, it launched the pilot project “Electric City Drive” late last year.

the first week of our #X7Roadtrip.

13. March 2019

The first ever BMW X7 took off on an adventurous 5 week road trip in the USA starting in Spartanburg, South Carolina, home of the biggest BMW Group Plant in the world and ending in beautiful Palm Springs, California. Stay tuned at the BMW Group News Forum for the upcoming travel diaries and learn more about our company in the United States.

Talking about customers, digitalisation and the joy of electrified individual mobility.

05. March 2019

Pieter Nota, Board Member Sales and Brand BMW, Aftersales BMW Group, has a clear vision for the future. For him it is all about customers and the new opportunities created by digitalisation. BMW Group is working towards a digital, emotional and electrified future of individual mobility. We spoke with Pieter Nota about how a consistent strategy, strong customer benefits and a focus on both fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are important for the future.

Get to know our Mobility Power House.

28. February 2019

When it comes to modern mobility, our solutions are just as diverse as the demands. We presented our Mobility Power House at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The joint mobility service provider of the BMW Group and Daimler AG offers its customers a wide range of mobility services. No other provider offers such a comprehensive urban mobility portfolio. We are combining our services in the joint ventures REACH NOW, CHARGE NOW, FREE NOW, PARK NOW und SHARE NOW. The CEOs of each joint venture will explain which services are already available and where they are headed.

Joined forces in the field of future mobility.

22. February 2019

Imagine you want to travel from Los Angeles to Berlin. In the morning, you drive your car to the airport. A parking space has already been reserved close to the gate so the vehicle can charge while you’re away. Your flight has already been booked and when you arrive in Berlin, a car-sharing vehicle awaits to take you to your hotel. Once you check in, you decide to explore the city. At your fingertips are the tools to organise a ticket for public transport and use ride-hailing or alternative concepts, such as a bike or electric scooter. Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW AG, outlines an exciting future for urban mobility.

Leading-edge design has a new home.

14. February 2019

With its unique architecture and exhibition spaces, BMW Welt in Munich draws visitors from around the globe. It certainly provides a fitting stage for exceptional automobiles and the latest developments in the field of mobility. Soon, there will be even more to satisfy design aficionados – when BMW Welt opens an exclusive presentation area created by two leading designers.

Swimming with the current: energy solutions for a stable future.

07. February 2019

E-MOBILITY IS THE NEW NORMAL. It is also the motto for the BMW Group’s ongoing efforts to find new electrified mobility solutions – solutions that not only enable convenient charging with cheap, emission-free electricity wherever possible, but entirely redefine the premium driving experience. A stable power grid is key. That is why the BMW Mobility and Energy Services business unit is working hand-in-hand with the energy industry on a number of new projects.

Lighthouse of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

31. January 2019

The World Economic Forum is a Swiss-based non-profit foundation, best known for its annual meeting in Davos. Once a year, leading international players from the worlds of business, politics and academia, as well as journalists, come together to discuss current global challenges. The World Economic Forum also follows – and recognises – developments in Industry 4.0. In this connection, BMW Group Plant Regensburg, representing the BMW Group production system as a whole, was honoured just a few days ago as a beacon of the fourth industrial revolution.

The courage to rethink mobility.

25. January 2019

New social and ecological challenges demand fresh thinking, new approaches and, above all, the courage to forge new paths. With the aim of always offering customers the best solution, the BMW Group is relying on its innovative capabilities as a mobility tech company. Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, talks about making bold decisions, how far the BMW Group has come and the role of IT firms and start-ups at the DLD Conference 2019.

Innovation in every cell.

16. January 2019

It has already been more than 10 years since the BMW Group first recognised the importance of sustainability and decided to focus on electromobility. But how far has the company come since then in this area, and what does the future look like? How can technology help achieve these goals and what will happen with all the used batteries? These are questions many people ask – Stefan Juraschek, head of Development Electric Powertrain at the BMW Group, answers them for us.

CES 2019: where innovations come to life.

10. January 2019

Tomorrow’s mobility can already be experienced today, in Las Vegas: From 8 to 11 January 2019, the BMW Group will be presenting its visions for intelligent connectivity at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The central element of the exhibition area is the BMW Vision iNEXT. Thanks to audio-visual installations, VR technology and an outdoor off-road circuit, visitors will be able to discover the BMW Group’s visions for themselves in the Nevada desert.

Research and Development in China.

03. January 2019

The BMW Group is a future-oriented mobility company. In a complex, connected and changing environment, comprehensive research and development are essential to withstand the challenges ahead. This relies on the right locations with the right conditions. China, for example, plays a key role in research and development at the BMW Group as a lead market for electromobility and digitalisation.

The cities of tomorrow – and how mobility will change them.

20. December 2018

In the constantly changing world we live in, population growth is one of the biggest challenges we face – especially in cities. It is up to us, as a society and as a company, to find answers. To this end, the BMW Group develops products that can adapt to new needs and changing habits: like the BMW Vision iNEXT, a vehicle that embodies our mobility concept for the future. At the AD Design Summit 2018 in Munich, the BMW Group’s head designer, Adrian van Hooydonk, explained why the BMW Vision iNEXT is more than just a car.

BMW Group-Daimler AG Joint Venture will take mobility "to the next level".

19. December 2018

The mobility revolution is gathering pace, says the BMW Group's Tony Douglas. In an interview, he gives insights into the future of mobility - and how the BMW Group's Mobility Services have already changed it.

Our position on SCR hardware upgrades for Euro 5 diesels.

12. December 2018

The current debate in Germany over hardware upgrades for diesel vehicles is in the public eye in connection with the introduction or threat of vehicle bans. The BMW Group rejects the idea of SCR hardware upgrades and has stated this openly. The reasons for this are outlined below.

BMW i drives innovation at the BMW Group.

05. December 2018

The BMW Group has produced many success stories. The BMW i brand is one of them – and a very special one at that. It has already been 10 years since the BMW Group, ahead of everyone else, made electromobility the focus of its Strategy NUMBER ONE and created BMW i – today, one of the world’s leading premium brands for electric models. With its Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, the BMW Group now aims to expand this lead and continue positioning BMW i as the company’s innovation driver. This is also shown by the BMW iNEXT, which will go into series production in 2021.

Additive manufacturing processes gaining ground.

21. November 2018

The use of 3D-printed parts in BMW Group production processes is increasing rapidly. In the last ten years alone, more than a million components produced using additive manufacturing have been successfully installed. This number will continue to grow as production expands and 3D-built parts become more widely used in series production.

Digitisation is driving the most significant period of change in the automotive industry since the introduction of the moving assembly line in 1913. Today, millions of cars use mobile networks for a variety of services. Real-time traffic information, vehicle system updates and emergency facilities, such as the eCall service which helps alert rescue servicesin an accident, all rely on fast mobile connectivity...

One Young World: The future of the next generation.

14. November 2018

The ninth One Young World Summit, which was held in The Hague in late October, provided an exciting forum for the future. The BMW Group was represented at the congress by 36 delegates from ten different countries. The young people came together with committed international participants from a wide range of different disciplines to discuss economic, political and social problems and develop innovative new solutions together. One of this year’s delegates, Maximilian Hahn, shares an exclusive first-hand account of his One Young World experience.

Web Summit 2018: Can my car be my buddy?

8. November 2018

For 9 years Web Summit brings together startups, CEOs and other top players from the tech world. After the considerable success of last year’s event, BMW continues its partnership once again this year. From 5-8 November 2018, the focus is not only on showcasing the latest technologies and products but also its impact and benefits for the people.

When the driver becomes a passenger.

31. October 2018

The first BMW debuted on the market in 1929. Since then, sheer driving pleasure has been transformed many times over. We now drive cars that can park themselves, stay in their lane – even brake for us in dangerous situations. And, in the future? Soon, we will also be able to decide whether to drive for ourselves or be driven – thanks to autonomous vehicles. But did you know it can also be fun? That is what most amazed people at a closed test circuit in Berlin in October, when they took a self-driving prototype of a BMW i3 (Level 4/5) for a spin.

Finding new perspectives together.

25. October 2018

On 12 and 13 September, Rotterdam played host to the rad°hub 2018. This time round, the BMW Group think-tank focused on the areas of connected life and smart habitat. In individual workshops, key thinkers and experts from around the world came together to develop new solutions for future mobility. Further highlights included an appearance by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the BMW Group and the City of Rotterdam.

“Hey BMW” – Your digital driving companion.

22. October 2018

At this year’s Paris Motor Show, the “Mondial de l’Automobile 2018”, held in early October, the BMW Group showcased a number of innovative solutions, including the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. From March 2019, the intelligent digital driving companion will be available in selected BMW models, including the 3 Series, 8 Series, X5 Series and Z4 Series. It can help the driver operate the vehicle or find a parking space – and can also answer technical questions about the car.

An interview with Klaus Fröhlich on flying and the mobility of the future.

09. October 2018

Electromobility, emission-free cars and autonomous driving. The mobility of the future is certainly taking off – quite literally, in fact, at the BMW Group. The BMW Vision iNEXT was not only designed for the future, but also presented to the public in a cargo plane during its “World Flight”. Klaus Fröhlich, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Development, explains why this provided the perfect setting and talks about the visions the BMW Vision iNEXT aims to realise.

Letting off the brakes – for unbridled driving passion.

27. August 2018

Despite facing tragic setbacks, dedication, energy and fighting spirit are the words that best describe Alessandro Zanardi. Even after losing his legs in a 2001 racing accident, the 51-year-old motorsports legend never gave up and is still successfully competing in races today. With steadfast determination, he has constantly pushed the boundaries of motorsports. Since 2003, he has also been supported by BMW. Working in close cooperation, the race cars Zanardi drives are developed precisely to meet his needs. This recently enabled Zanardi to reach a new milestone – his first race without prosthetic limbs. The Italian came through with flying colours: At the DTM Weekend in Misano, Italy, Zanardi guest-started in two races – and finished an impressive fifth in the BMW M4 DTM in the second race of the weekend.

A vision goes around the world.

23. August 2018

Four destinations, three continents, five days and two strong partners – those are the facts behind the BMW Vision iNEXT World Flight. In collaboration with Lufthansa Cargo, the BMW Group presented its latest Vision Vehicle, the BMW Vision iNEXT, in Munich, New York, San Francisco and Beijing.

The Z4’s day in the sun.

23. August 2018

California sunshine, a spectacular location and a lot of attention –the scene was set for the world premiere of the new BMW Z4 in Pebble Beach. An atmosphere the exclusive Roadster more than lived up to.

Knowledge sparks visions.

10. August 2018

In 1969, when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, the impossible became possible. Today, the BMW Group is about to realise another dream: the dream of autonomous driving. The same principle still applies: Without the knowhow and innovative spirit of scientists, engineers and developers, milestones like these would not be possible. For this reason, the BMW Group, with many other supporters, has founded the BMW Summer School to promote the exchange of innovative ideas among young scientists.

Europe keeps on growing.

31. July 2018

There is no disputing that Europe offers a wealth of history and culture. But for many big companies, it is the continent’s geographic location that makes it so attractive, as the ideal central marketplace. Viewed as a whole, Europe is also the BMW Group’s largest production location: a location with major growth opportunities that can strengthen the global balance between production facilities in Asia, the Americas and Europe.

An investment in the future.

10. July 2018

Undoubtedly one of the most important markets in the world, China also holds tremendous potential for mobility companies. In addition to BMW and MINI models with “classic” drive trains, electric vehicles are also increasingly popular on Chinese roads. With six electrified models currently available, the BMW Group offers the widest range of products in the premium segment – a good starting point for further expansion of its strategic partnerships in China. The BMW Group is taking various entrepreneurial steps that will sharpen the company’s presence in the Chinese market and create a basis for exporting BMW electric vehicles to other markets.